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XIII. A Golden Picnic
It’sawonderMarillanevertoldyouaboutit,Anne.Tobesure,ithappenedthirtyyearsagoandeverybodyhasforgotten.”
“Well,ifthere’sastorywemusthaveit,”saidAnne.“Let’ssitrightdownhereamongthenarcissiandDianawilltellit.Why,girls,therearehundredsofthem...they’vespreadovereverything.Itlooksasifthegardenwerecarpetedwithmoonshineandsunshinecombined.Thisisadiscoveryworthmaking.TothinkthatI’velivedwithinamileofthisplaceforsixyearsandhaveneverseenitbefore!Now,Diana.”
“Longago,”beganDiana,“thisfarmbelongedtooldMr.DavidGray.Hedidn’tliveonit...helivedwhereSilasSloanelivesnow.Hehadoneson,Jordan,andhewentuptoBostononewintertoworkandwhilehewastherehefellinlovewithagirlnamedHesterMurray.Shewasworkinginastoreandshehatedit.She’dbeenbroughtupinthecountryandshealwayswantedtogetback.WhenJordanaskedhertomarryhimshesaidshewouldifhe’dtakeherawaytosomequietspotwhereshe’dseenothingbutfieldsandtrees.SohebroughthertoAvonlea.Mrs.LyndesaidhewastakingafearfulriskinmarryingaYankee,andit’scertainthatHesterwasverydelicateandaverypoorhousekeeper;butmothersaysshewasveryprettyandsweetandJordanjustworshippedthegroundshewalkedon.Well,Mr.GraygaveJordanthisfarmandhebuiltalittlehousebackhereandJordanandHesterlivedinitforfouryears.SheneverwentoutmuchandhardlyanybodywenttoseeherexceptmotherandMrs.Lynde.
